Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-03-23
take me to the pueblo of the Lake

And here first surprise awaited me.
The lake which had seen glistening in
the sun from the elevated post of obser-
Walton nowhere appeared when | arrived
at its margin. In its place was a vast
expanse, for miles, of reeds, swaying
and drifting before the breeze. Herds
Of cattle waded ard widowed in this
sea of green, feeding on the nutritious
aquatic plants and grasses, and their
fine condition and sleek hides showed
that this amphibious life was not un-
congenial to them.
A narrow waterway leads from the
town, disappearing slowly among the
reeds, and upon this we embarked in
the Indians light chalupe. As we
passed along this canal / noticed that
the water was clear and pure, but the
bottom composed of a spongy bed OF
vegetable matter In some placer the
Indians had to get out and pull the
canoe past the long barges, laden with
wood, on their way 10 Mexico, and
which entirely monopolized the narrow
channel. Their weight would submerge
what appeared to be, moment before.
firm ground. When the loaded barges
stuck fast, their swarthy conductors had
the habit of getting out and springing
up and down this vegetable mass, at the
point of adhesion, securing thus twn or
three feet OF water where none had been
before.
At times there would come to my ears
strange and mournful sounds from the
encircling reed meadows.
''Boatmen! What sounds are those
like the moaning of persons iii dis
treSs?''
Nothing, senior! Only the chatting
of fishermen and the laughter of child
ren.n
This statement turned out TO be cor
rect. AT intervals we caught glimpses
through the tall reeds of intricate pas
sageways, just large enough for the en-
try of very small canoe. In these
canoes were women and children enga-
ged in fishing and the other industries
peculiar to the lake 1t was their con-
yersation and laughter, filtered through
the forest of reeds, that produced the
mournful sounds before alluded to.
''But what kind of fish do they
catch?" we next asked.
MAINLY frogs, pollywOgS, worms and
insects, senorl'' WAS his surprising reply.
1t was difficult TO believe my ears, bat
subsequent investigation proved this TO
be the main industry of the Lake Dwell
ers, apart from their peculiar agricul-
ture, of which shall speak later on.
There are three species of frogs inhabit
ing the lake. They are prepared for the
table, with suitable condiments, and are
sold extensively even among the well-tO-
do classes, being especially popular du-
ring Lent as 4 substitute for animal
food. The spawn of the frog, AMI the
little animals so ridiculous and repug-
nant to civilized taste, popularity called
;ollywogs, are only used among the
poor, and are served on leaves of maize.
But the insect industry surpasSes by
;sis- 49, fFeg.eatChinss;; business There
is sort of water-ny, called by the In
dians aXayacatl, which frequentS the
lakes in proligious numbers, and which
is peddled through the streets OF Mexico.
with the shrill street cry, Files for bird
food" As thenumber OF birds kept in
private houses is very large, single
family often possessing twenty or thirty,
the fly trade is correspondinyly brisk.
The insect is about the size of a grain of
rice, has six legs, swimS on the water
with great force and rapidity, and
though it has wings has never been
known to use them. When caught they
are either dried or kneaded into a paste,
cooked in water with salt, and eaten
with much relish by the natives. The
eggs and larvae of this interesting crea-
ture have equal value. The Indians
plant the stems of reeds in the shallow
parts OF the lake, about a yard apart, 50
that the upper end shall project above
the surface. The female of the aXay-
actayl deposits her eggs upon these seve-
raj layers deep, so that they not only
cover the reed stalk, but also hang in
punches from it. At regular intervals
there are collected, dried on mats, and
these form the marketable products
called ahuantle. This. ground and fried
in lard with hens eggs, makes dish
very much like fish eggs, and IS much
used when the precepts of religion pro-
hibit flesh eating. When the larvae are
Matched and appear as little white
worms they are caught in great quanti-
ties and cooked entire or ground into 4
paste. This delicate dish is called puXi,
and is considered very nourishing.
As we nearel the little Indian village
Of Yico, which was TO be our point of
the boatmen became COM
complaining bitterly of 4
kind of floating mass of reeds and grass
called vondoleros. These floating banks
have thickness ranging from half a
yard to a yard and half, and are COM
posed of the woven roots of plants.
living and dead, the remains Of the
creatures that Inhabit them, the mud of
the lake bottom, and dust brought by
the wind. Solidly knit together, and of
less density than the water, they shift
from point to point with the winds and
currents. 1t is difficult to account for
their formation; but nature works with
sach skill in their construction, and
gives them such Solidity that, in times
of drought, the natives transport their
cattle to them for pasture, and the
banks sustain the weight, only yielding
and sinking under foot a little-as
would be natural.